More About
This Book

Overview

For fishing tomorrow

it’s just us two.

Not Mom, not Grandpa,

not Lucy.

It’ll be like playing catch or

Painting the garage.

Just Dad and Me.

Fishing.

Using a wide variety of poetic forms – quatrains, ballads, iambic meter, rhyming lists, concrete poetry, tercets and free verse –this debut author tells the story of a nine-year-old boy’s day of fishing. Sibling rivalry, the bond between father and son, the excitement – and difficulty -- of fishing all add up to a day of adventure any child would want to experience.

Matthew Cordell illuminates this novel-in-verse throughout with his energetic black-and-white line drawings.

While each poem can be read and enjoyed on its own, the poems work together to create a story arc with conflict, crisis, resolution and character growth.

The back matter of this book equips the reader with a Poet's Tackle Box of tools and definitions for understanding the various poetic forms the author uses in this story.

What People Are Saying

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Newcomer Wissinger offers a collection of more than 40 poems, which join to form a novel in verse about a family’s fishing trip. Sam is initially distraught when his sister, Lucy, worms her way into his fishing trip with his father; as the day progresses, though, sibling rivalry turns to appreciation, especially after Sam catches a giant catfish (“I’m catfish strong!/ I caught that lunker. Yee-haw! Wham!”). Wissinger uses a variety of poetic forms and techniques, all of which are defined in a substantial glossary. Just the thing for readers with a burgeoning interest in poetry—or angling. Ages 6–9. Illustrator’s agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Mar.)

From the Publisher

"Just the thing for readers with a burgeoning interest in poetry—or angling."—Publishers Weekly

"A playful verse narrative of the joys and perils of a family fishing trip. . . . This tender, well-crafted sibling story should hook many readers."—Kirkus

"Engaging verse that's just the right depth and length for chapter-book readers. . . A solid, entertaining story to hook children on poetry."—Booklist

"All of Sam's episodes take the form of poems, each discreetly labeled by its poetic form, which is then defined at the end of the book. . . most will enjoy the notion that there are as many ways to tell a tale as to catch a fish."—Bulletin

"This novel in verse successfully builds a story filled with anticipation, family humor, and sibling rivalry. . . . Wissinger deftly plies her craft to ensure that the use of poetry enhances the readability of the story"—School Library Journal, starred review

Children's Literature
- Shirley Nelson

Sam is super excited to go fishing with his dad, especially since it will be just the two of them. However, his younger sister, Lucy, manages to join in on the trip. Sam does not think she deserves to go, especially after using his tackle box as a bed for her princess doll, but Dad insists that she come along. When they arrive at the lake, Lucy begins singing to the fish, prompting Sam to tell her to be quiet. He is further displeased when Lucy catches the first fish. The day continues in this manner, but Sam begins to appreciate his sister, transforming the trip into a special family event. Told in a series of poems in the voices of Sam, Lucy, and Dad, this short novel is a lighthearted look at sibling rivalry. Each poem is labeled as to its type, introducing the young reader to ballads, odes, cinquains, and less familiar types such as double dactyls and rondelets. A glossary at the end of the book provides a thorough explanation of poetry terms and types. Cordell's whimsical black and white illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to the poems. Not only is this a fun book to read, it will also provide an excellent introduction to poetry. Reviewer: Shirley Nelson

School Library Journal

Gr 1–4—This novel in verse successfully builds a story filled with anticipation, family humor, and sibling rivalry. Wissinger adroitly uses a variety of poetic forms to express nine-year-old Sam's excitement about an upcoming outing with his father: "Hip-hip, hooray!/It's fishing day./Yo-ho yippee!/Just Dad and me." To Sam's consternation, his annoying little sister decides that she wants to go, too. She packs for the trip by filling Sam's tackle box with her toys. "Where's my stringer?/Something's wrong!/The princess doll does not belong!" Sam is even more despondent when her singing helps her catch a handful of fish even before he has caught one. The trip vastly improves when he lands a sizable catfish, leading Lucy to gush with pride for him. "You caught one Sam!/Lucy scoots close to me./A big one, too!/I didn't even look/when she caught/her first fish./But she cheered for me/Maybe I was wrong/about bringing her along." Teachers will appreciate the seamless introduction to different poetic forms including rhyming lists, concrete poems, ballads, and haiku. Wissinger deftly plies her craft to ensure that the use of poetry enhances the readability of the story. She includes a "Poet's Tackle Box" to complete this solid introduction to poetic form. Cordell's whimsical line drawings complement the poetry by capturing the adventurous spirit and humor that this story demands. Hearing it aloud, children will appreciate the rollicking tale and the lyrical verse, while young readers will be able to enjoy the book independently. This book might inspire some to pursue an interest in fishing, but it will surely encourage all of them to delve into the world of poetry.—Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY

Kirkus Reviews

A playful verse narrative of the joys and perils of a family fishing trip. In her poetic debut for primary graders, Wissinger tells the sweet domestic tale of a much-anticipated family outing from the viewpoints of young Sam, sister Lucy and Dad. Sam eagerly looks forward to fishing solo with his father--"It'll be like playing catch or / painting the garage. / Just Dad and me. / Fishing"--when younger sis Lucy horns in and threatens to ruin the fun. First, Lucy disturbs the contents of Sam's tackle box, then renders Sam despondent when her singing helps her catch a handful of fish even before Sam has caught one. But the trip vastly improves for Sam when he lands a sizable catfish, leading Lucy to gush with pride for him. The resolution to this muted sibling-rivalry plot is reached via a number of verse forms, from the kid-friendly acrostic, haiku and concrete poem to the purposefully silly double dactyl, a form so complex Wissinger admits her example here follows only in "spirit." Alongside the poems, Cordell's light yet expressive illustrations neatly capture the day's shifting mood. Perhaps in a nod to teachers, Wissinger tacks on a note on writing poetry, adding definitions of literary terms and verse forms in language too sophisticated for many in the work's intended audience. Appendix aside, this tender, well-crafted sibling story should hook many readers. (bibliography) (Verse fiction. 5-9)

Meet the Author

Tamera Wissinger was inspired to write this novel-in-verse after writing "Night Crawlers," a poem that stemmed from her fun childhood memories of night crawler hunting with her dad before fishing trips. A graduate of Hamline University’s MFA Writing for Children program, Tamera Wissinger shares her time between Chicago and Florida. This is her first book.

Mattthew Cordell and his brother Eric were all-around best buds. They grew up in a small town in South Carolina, where his family would often take fishing trips together. Matthew lives in Illinois with his family. He is the illustrator of Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie by Julie Sternberg and Justin Case by Rachel Vail.

Your Rating:

Your Recommendations:

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked,
or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to
Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original
and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you
and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not
violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help
ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer.
However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or
to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the
information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reminder:

- By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its
sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the
review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.

- Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly
those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com
also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

Sort by:
Showing
all of
2
Customer Reviews

Anonymous

Posted March 26, 2014

Amazing

Never read this book but by the short summery of it,it sounds reall good.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted June 30, 2013

Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger, illustr

Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger, illustrated by Matthew CordellHoughton Mifflin, 2013Novel in Verse: Humorous/Realistic120 pagesRecommended for grades 2-5

What a great mentor text this is for poetry writing! I am feeling wheels turning around how to use this as a mentor text throughout the year. Students could try a hand at all the various poetic forms (ballad, couplet, double dactyl), try incorporating new poetic techniques (assonance, metaphor and refrain), while learning poetic terms (rhyme, rhythm) and having fun! You will love this book, a sure addition to the classroom library!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.